My mini-comics collection now at Library of Congress

by Matt Dembicki

On Friday, I loaded up the minivan and brought my minicomics collection to the Library of Congress. It wasn't easy to part with, because these are not just books, but momentos and memories. But in the end, LOC will do a much better job preserving it and allowing researchers and others to find those gems they're looking for. My collection is mostly from 2000 up to present (with a heavy does of Midwest and D.C. area cartoonists) but there are a bunch from earlier decades as well as from other countries. One that comes to mind was a mini done by Kevin Eastman before he did Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Cast a Vote for that Occasional Contributor to the ComicsDC blog, aka Steve

Last week, while laying in bed reading, getting ready to fall asleep, I suddenly heard a gleeful squeal from my wife Kris, who happened to be looking at her i-phone with eyes wide open. Barely able to get the words out of her mouth, she managed to inform me that I was nominated in the "best artist" category for the current 2017 Best of Loudoun poll. At first I thought she was being funny, but to my pleasant surprise, there was my name, among about fourteen others. In the past, Kris and I would fill in these polls, and I'd always give Kris my "write-in" vote, as she would also do with me, but this time I found myself on the actual list. I'm not sure what it means to be "best artist", as there is a plethora of great artists in this very large county known as Loudoun, however I am very grateful to whoever it was who nominated me, and found my work worthy enough to be in this poll. If you also find my artwork worthy, and if you've followed my artistic endeavors and adventures for a while, or if you've just found out about it and like what you see, then why not vote for me? A win is definitely a long shot, but it's always so nice to see there are folks who appreciate what you do, somewhere out there. By the way, the pic below is just a screen shot. HERE's the link to vote. It's simple and you can vote from anywhere. Thanks a ton, in the meantime (and apologies for the horn tooting)! -Steve Loya

                                                                                                                                              

Bedtime for Batman's Dahl at Hooray for Books

by Mike Rhode

A few nights ago, author Michael Dahl entertained a group of youngsters wearing their Batjammies at Alexandria's Hooray for Books. Dahl put on his own set and then read the book he wrote that is illustrated by Ethen Beavers. Dahl's story draws a parallel between a young boy getting ready for bed and Batman heading out to fight crime. Beavers did an excellent job with the Batman Adventures animation style. The book is aimed at the very young, and the children in the crowd certainly enjoyed it. Full disclosure - I was the only adult there without young children.

 

Dahl's next book is Good Morning, Superman, but some children starting reading it so I didn't get a glimpse. It's by a different artist though.

And they have autographed Wimpy Kid books for sale still.

Washington Wizards Collecti-Con on Feb. 26

The Washington Wizards are starting a one-day, all-age sports/pop culture/comic book show that will happen a few hours before their game on Sunday, Feb. 26 (10 am to 2 pm). It's $100 for a table (includes 4 tickets to the game). The agreement/applications forms are below.

 

Juana Medina interview in Wash City paper

Juana Medina, Children's Book Scribe

Liz Garrigan

Washington City Paper (December 9 2016): 15-16

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/special-issues/article/20846183/the-people-issue-2016#medina

Juana Medina on the Kojo Nmamdi show

Audio should be online tomorrow.

How To Fall In Love With Reading As A Young English Language Learner

Kojo Nmamdi Show Dec 07 2016

http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2016-12-07/helping-young-english-language-learners-love-reading

Learning a new language is an enriching, educational experience for some children and a necessity for others. For D.C. based author and illustrator Juana Medina, learning English in her native Columbia was a requirement she resisted as a child, yet appreciated later as an adult. Medina uses her early experience in her latest book "Juana & Lucas" to both encourage children to learn and to foster an appreciation of diversity in young readers. We talk with Medina and Mary Ellen Icaza of Montgomery County Public Libraries about the role communities have in encouraging young readers of varied backgrounds, and how libraries can make immigrant families feel more at home.

Guests

• Mary Ellen Icaza Public Services Administrator for Community Engagement, Programming, and Learning, Montgomery County Public Libraries
• Juana Medina author and illustrator, "Juana & Lucas" and "1 Big Salad"; teacher, George Washington University

D.C. in new 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' movie?

The trailer teaser for the upcoming "Spider-Man: Homecoming" movie has the webslinger sitting on top of the Washington Monument.

The Post on Krazy Kat's Creator

What was the source of Krazy Kat's comic genius?

By Glen David Gold
Washington Post.com (December 6 2016): https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/what-was-the-source-of-krazy-kats-comic-genius/2016/12/06/561381e8-bb1f-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html 

NPR's comics of the year list includes locals

NPR's Book Concierge

Our Guide To 2016's Great Reads

Showing books tagged Comics & Graphic Novels (31)

Produced by Nicole Cohen, Rose Friedman, Petra Mayer and Beth Novey | Executive Producer: Ellen Silva
Designed by David Eads, Juan Elosua and Clinton King – Published Dec. 6, 2016

http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2016/#/tag/comics-and-graphic-novels

Produced by DC-area types are:

The Caped Crusade: Batman And The Rise Of Nerd Culture
by Glen Weldon

Cook Korean! A Comic Book With Recipes
by Robin Ha

March: Book Three
by John Lewis, with Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell

Vision Volume 1: Little Worse Than A Man
by Tom King, illustrated by Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Matt Wuerker's Facebook page is...

https://www.facebook.com/wuerkercartoons/

Comic Riffs on Resist!

Cartoonists are creating a newspaper to protest Trump's view of women

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 1 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/12/01/hundreds-of-cartoonists-are-creating-a-newspaper-to-protest-trumps-view-of-women/

March vol 3 is #1 on Paste's best comics list

The 25 Best Comics of 2016

By The Paste Comics Crew  |  December 5, 2016 
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/the-best-comics-of-2016.html?a=1

More on the upcoming Resist! comic

An anti-Trump comics collection edited by the Spiegelman family

By Gabe Friedman
December 2, 2016
http://www.jta.org/2016/12/02/life-religion/an-anti-trump-comics-collection-edited-by-the-spiegelman-family

Clay Jones on the ridiculous Comet Ping Pong problem

Paranoid Pizza

Work in progress: 'Magic Bullet' 14 cover

Sneak peek at the cover-in-progress for Magic Bullet #14 by Wendi Strang-Frost. Deadline for submissions and ads is Jan. 2. 

 

Dec 28: Adults Read YA Book Club - Gene Yang's American Born Chinese

Adults Read YA Book Club Pick

Wednesday, December 28th at 6:30 pm

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Three apparently unrelated tales come together with an unexpected twist in this modern fable. In one story, Jin-Wang is the only Chinese American student at his school. He is picked on by jocks and bullies, and to make matters worse, he falls hopelessly in love with an all-American girl. Another strand of this novel tells the tale of the Monkey King, one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables. A third story involves Danny and his cousin, Chin-Kee. When Chin-Kee makes his yearly visit, he ruins Danny's life and Danny has to switch schools to escape the shame. These three tales weave together in this astonishing novel from Gene Luen Yang.

Hooray for Books 1555 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 548-4092 info@hooray4books.com www.hooray4books.com

Dec 7: Bedtime for Batman author Michael Dahl at Hooray for Books

Wednesday, December 7th: We have exciting news! We won a Bedtime for Batman Pajama Party from Capstone Publishing!!! Join us for this very special Bedtime for Batman Pajama Party with author Michael Dahl! When a dark night comes to the big city, one little superhero prepares for a great adventure -- bedtime! This Batman tale will have fans young and old delighting in their bedtime routine. At our Bedtime for Batman party, we will have a story time with the author, milk and cookies, and a superhero-themed craft. Put on your PJs and get ready for some fun! The party starts at 5 pm!

NEW: The first 16 prepaid orders of Bedtime for Batman ($15.99 plus tax) include complimentary superhero pajamas for your child! Sizing and color options limited. For best selection purchase early.

 

Hooray for Books
1555 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 548-4092

info@hooray4books.com

www.hooray4books.com

Art of RT for sale in Singapore

CT Lim found The Art of Richard Thompson in his local bookshop Kinokuniya, in Singapore, and kindly sent me this photo.

National Library of Medicine collects Eclipse trading cards

Trade Cards in The Fight Against AIDS By Ginny A. Roth Circulating Now blog December 1 2016 https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2016/12/01/trade-cards-in-the-fight-against-aids/ I can't believe they don't have a complete set though.  Boy, I bought a lot of Eclipse comic books back in the day. They were one of the interesting first new comic companies to spring up in the 1970s.

Rosarium Publishing's new graphic novels

I got 3 new graphic novels in the mail today from Greenbelt's Rosarium Publishing presumably as review copies. Bill Campbell is the man behind the company, and we really should interview him soon.

However, following my general policy for books by people or publishers I know, I'll highlight, but not review them (unless one really knocks my socks off like March vol 1-3, which is rare these days. Honestly, life's too short to hurt anyone's feelings with a casual sentence in a review).

So these arrived, and all look interesting:

Malice in Ovenland

Vol. 1

By Micheline Hess

Malice in Ovenland
JUVENILE FICTION
128 Pages, 7 x 10
Formats: Paperback, ebook: PDF, Fixed Layout EPUB, Fixed Layout KF8
Paperback, $17.95 (US $17.95) (CA $23.95)
Publication Date: August 2016
ISBN 9780996769228

Instead of falling down a rabbit hole, Lily finds her way to a fantasy world through a messy kitchen appliance.

Lily Brown is a bright, curious, energetic young girl from Queens, New York. When her mom forces her to stay home for the summer and do chores, Lily fumes. Little did she know that the greasy oven in the kitchen was going to give her more excitement and adventure than she could possibly handle.

Born and raised in NYC, Micheline Hess does design at a prominent ad agency in Chelsea and spends her spare time developing graphic novels, short stories, and interactive iBooks for kids. She has always been fascinated by the visual narrative in books and film and is constantly endeavoring to weave her own sense of humorous story-telling into both her personal and sometimes professional work. She lives in New York City.

The art in this next one is very stylized, seemingly influenced by 1970s poster art.




The Little Black Fish

Illustrated by Bizhan Khodabandeh

7-9
JUVENILE FICTION
52 Pages, 6.75 x 10
Formats: Paperback, ebook: PDF, Fixed Layout KF8, Fixed Layout EPUB
Paperback, $9.95 (US $9.95) (CA $12.95)
Publication Date: August 2016
ISBN 9781495607295


Based on the Persian children's classic by Samad Behrangi, this book is about a young fish's courage to question authority and strike out on her own An inquisitive little fish decided to question authority and leave the safety of her own home to venture out into the expansive sea. The creatures she meets along the way teach her important lessons and make her learn the most valuable treasure in life: freedom.

Bizhan Khodabandeh is a designer, illustrator, artist, and activist. He is the communications director for Virginia Commonwealth University's department of communication arts and design and the design manager of Gallery5 in Richmond. He is the recipient of a Silver Medal Award for comics and cartooning through the Society of Illustrators. He lives in Richmond, Virginia.

Jennifer's Journal: The Life of a SubUrban Girl Vol. 1

By Jennifer Crute

Jennifer's Journal
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
62 Pages, 7 x 10
Formats: Paperback, Fixed Layout EPUB, ebook: PDF, Fixed Layout KF8
Paperback, $8.95 (US $8.95) (CA $15.95)
Publication Date: May 2015
ISBN 9780990319160

"...this graphic novel chronicles the life of me, Jennifer Crute, a freckled-face African American artists. Pages from my actual journals illustrate my upbringing as a misfit in the suburbs of New Jersey and my daily interactions as an adult living in New York City."

Jennifer Cruté started writing comics in 2003.  She is featured in a Current TV segment about women in comics called "KAPOW! The New Comic Book Heroines." She was nominated for a Glyph Comic Award for Best Rising Star.  Her cartoons have been featured in BITCH magazine. She was a finalist in Lambda Legal's Life Without Fair Courts contest.  She has lectured at the Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art, Miami University, Ohio, and Skidmore College, and her comics and oil and mixed media work has shown at the Medialia Gallery in New York City,  the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MOCADA)  in Brooklyn; the Limner Gallery in Hudson, N.Y.; and the Ocean Hill Arts Sanctuary in Brooklyn.